Writing

For the careful readerorthe person whose emails go unanswered

2026

  1. Jul 72 min read

    The Name Nobody Needed

    I forgot a name mid-story and nobody noticed but me. Your copy has the same problem. Cut the details your customer doesn't need, even the ones you love.

2025

  1. Sep 22 min read

    Gauntlets For Sale

    If you sell gloves, don't call them gauntlets. Words live in people's minds, not dictionaries. The goal isn't to sound smart. It's to be understood.

  2. Jul 82 min read

    Stop Blaming Your Ideas

    Your post flopped, so you blame your ideas. More often readers never got that far. Long sentences, dense paragraphs and weak openings stop people reading.

  3. Apr 152 min read

    Writing is Rewriting

    AI can fill a blank page in seconds, but it all sounds the same. To stand out in a world of AI sameness, you need to learn to rewrite.

2024

  1. Oct 222 min read

    Punchlines for Writers

    Punchlines matter in writing as much as comedy. They pull readers through. Timing is everything, and if it doesn't land, nor will your message.

  2. Jun 182 min read

    Long and Boring

    When your work is called "long and boring", fix the boring bit. Length isn't the enemy, disengagement is. Instead of trimming the fat, add substance.

2023

  1. Oct 311 min read

    Dumbing It Down

    "Dumbing it down" doesn't mean your readers are stupid. It means respecting their time. The easier your words are to understand, the more they'll get read.

  2. Sep 51 min read

    In Defense of “Versing”

    My kids say "versing" and I used to correct them. Then I surrendered. Language exists to communicate, and some changes are too powerful to oppose.

  3. Jul 112 min read

    Dump Your Adjectives

    When everyone says "innovative" and "top quality", the words stop working. Be specific about what makes you different and dump the generic adjectives.

  4. May 21 min read

    Breaking The Word Limit

    You can't trick someone into reading by keeping it short. Interested buyers are hungry for information. Don't lose them by limiting your word count.

  5. Apr 41 min read

    My Annoying Writing Style

    I write with lots of line spacing and some people find it annoying. It gives words room to breathe and makes them easier to scan. Readability wins.

  6. Jan 172 min read

    Run out of things to say?

    Out of ideas? There are millions of love songs and we still write new ones. You don't need more things to say. Find more ways to say what you already know.

2022

  1. Aug 95 min read

    6 Free Tools To Help Your Copywriting

    Six free tools I use to plan, write and edit, so you can become a better and more consistent writer without spending a cent.

  2. Jul 265 min read

    Copywriting Tips That Will Make You A Better Writer

    The techniques I use to write persuasive copy. Know the action you want readers to take, and tell them exactly what they get for taking it.